Apparatus for use in blasting



July 3, 1923. 1,461,012

R. D. HARRIS APPARATUS FOR USE IN BLASTING Filed June 2, 1919 Inventor M. 1w

y Id. 2. W

Attorney- Patented July 3, 1923.

UNITED srss RHYS D. HARRIS, 0]? SEVEN SISTERS, WALES.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN BLASTING.

Application filed June 2,

1919. Serial No. 301,300.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF MARCH 8, 1921, 41 STAT. I, 1313.)

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RHYs DAVID HARRIS, a'subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Afan House, Seven Sisters, Glamorganshire, ales, have invented a certain new and useful Apparatus for Use in Blasting (for which I have filed an application in Great Britain No. 13,354, dated September 18, 1917 Patent No. 118,893), and of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus foruse in blasting of the known kind in which a detonator carrying tube is employed adapted for the reception within its bore of a rod, the tube being formed and provided at its lower end for the reception of the detonator while the rod is adapted to slide within the tube for forcing out the detonator and for inserting it into the hole previously made for its reception in the explosive charge.

The invention has for its object to pro- .vide such an apparatus of simple construction which is adapted for its more convenient and effective use.

According to the invention the upper end of the detonator carrying tube is provided with means for holding the upper end of the rod until the rod is required for use in ex pelling the detonator and inserting it into the explosive charge; For this purpose the upper end of the tube has mounted upon it a transversely disposed slotted member capable of use as a handle and the adjacent part of the tube is provided with a longitudinal slot in its wall, so that the upper diverted end of the rod which may protrude from the slot in the tube may serve as means for lifting the rod and for retaining it in its uplifted position by turning the diverted end of the rod into the slot provided in the handle part.

According to theinvention, moreover, the lower end of the tube is cut away or slotted to a distance corresponding to the length of the detonator and at this part is provided with a lining of a material such as celluloid. Immediately above the part of the lower end of the tube which is ,cut away a screw thread is provided for the reception of the socket part of a pricker which may be thus screwed upon the endof the tube, the

pricker socket being for the purpose pro vided. with an axial hole to accommodate the slotted extremity of the tube. The same screw thread may be utilized for the receptlon of the socket part of a scraper having its end formed of a convenient shape for the purpose of scraping the hole prior to the insertion of the explosive charge. The same screw thread may be used for the reception of the socket part of an auger or any other tool, the use of which may be required, and which is adapted to be used at the end of the detonator carrying tube.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 represents an elevation of an apparatus provided according to the invention, the apparatus being shown in a horizontal position.

Figure 2 is an elevation corresponding thereto.

Figure 3 is a detail view of a pricker which may be used with the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates detail views of a scraper which may also be used.

Figure 5 is a detail view of an auger which may also be used.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation illustrating a modification.

Figure 6 is a view at right angles to that shown in Figure 6.

Figures 7 and 8 are respectively side view and end view of stemmers intended for use with the apparatus shown in Figure 6.

In carrying the invention into effect as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I provide the detonator carrying tube a and the rod 6 of copper and at one end I mount upon the tube a a handle fitting 0 which is formed of symmetrical parts one of which is secured to the end of the tube a, while the other is secured upon it by means of bolts leaving a slot (Z for the reception of the transversely diverted end 6 of the rod 22. At the opposite end thetube a is cut away at a to form a longitudinal slot in the wall of the tube for a distance slightly longer than that of the detonator to be used and so that the transverse section is slightly more than a semi-circle. At this slotted part a a lining is inserted of a material such as celluloid with a view to avoid contact or friction between metal parts and this lining is secured in position in any convenient way. Adjacent the slotted part a screw threads are formed upon the tube a at a for the reception of the socket part of tools such as a pricker g, Figure 3, a scraper l,, Fig ure 4, or an auger 2', Figure 5. The socket parts of these tools are conveniently provided with respective axial holes for the rcception of the end a of the tube a.

The rod Z) is provided with a rubber pad or cushion b at its extremity for contact with the detonator on its being gradually forced out and inserted into the explosive charge. In Figures 1 and 2 the rod 7) is shown in its upliftedor withdrawn position in which the transversely extending part b is held within the slot d, and in alignment with the handle 0. The corresponding position of the opposite end of the rod 6 is indicated at '1, F i gure 1. lVhen the art 6 is withdrawn from the slot (Z to force the'detonator out of the end of the tube, the part 6 moves to the extreme end of the upper slotted part of the tube a into the position indicated in dotted lines at 3 Figure 1, whereby the lower end of the rod assumes the position indicated in dotted lines at 2, Figure 1.

In the use of the apparatus with the parts in the position indicated in Figure 1, the scraper h Figure 4, may be screwed upon the end of the tube with a view to clear the hole of the borings for the reception of the blasting charge. This is then inserted into the bottom of the bore hole as for example by means of a wooden ran'imer. The pricker 9, Figure 3, is then inserted into the last cartridge by hand or applied upon the end of the tube and inserted into the bore hole for the purpose of forming hole or recess in the charge for the reception of the detonator. A rubber or other ring j is mounted upon the tube a and this ring is moved into the position corresponding to the extent of protrusion of the tube into the bore hole in this operation, so that thus in the subsequent introduction of the tube into the bore-hole for the insertion of the detonator the end of the tube may by the indication afforded by the ring j be brought precisely into position immediately into the charge. The detonator end of the tube is then inserted into the hole made by the pricker in the last charge, the last portion of the detonator having. been previouslypushed home at the point of the apparatus so as to be carried on the point. The hole is then stemmed with clay or shale to within 12 of the entrance of the hole. The detonator is then pushed out of the tube into the small hole made by the pricker by means of the rod.

The'tube a carrying the rod 6 is then witl drawn leaving the detonator within the charge. The last 12 inches of the bore hole are then stemmed or rammed with plastic clay or shale and the electric circuit for the ignition of the detonator fuse is made from a safe distance. Should the shot misfire through a defective detonator being em ployed, the auger is placed on the end of the apparatus and the last 12 of stemming bored out on the upper side of the wires, then by a sharp pull upon the cable attached to the wire the faulty detonator is withdrawn. The pricker is then inserted on the point of the apparatus and pressed through the hole made by the auger and apparatus into the charge, the pricker is then withdrawn. The position of the explosive charge being already indicated upon the rod by the ring j, a new detonator is then inserted into the end a of the tube and the detona-tor inserted into the charge. The hole is again stemmed or rammed for the last twelve inches and the detonator wires are connected to the cable so that the detonator may be ignited on the electric circuit being made.

A modified form of the apparatus is illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8. As illustrated in Figure 6 an outer tube m is provided to surround the detonator carrying tube, which outer tube on is of slightly larger diameter than the detonator carrying tube and is screw threaded at one end for the purpose of being screwed upon the boss of the handle fitting 0 while the other end is provided with an internal screw thread into which maybe fitted or screwed any of the tools otherthan the pricker, such for example as the scraper, the auger or the stemmer.-

In Figures 7 and 8 is illustrated a stemmer of short length such as maybe used to stem the hole after a misfire', stemmer'of greater length may be used when stemming the hole in the first instance. The pricker and if desired also the auger may be secured to the inner or detonator carrying tube as hereinbefore described, The outer tube m and the detonator carrying tube may have a scale of inches provided over their entire length in order that they may be used for the accurate determination of the position of the charge. The short stemmer a before referred to may be provided of conical form as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 with its enlarged part at the lower extremity and with a longitudinal groove provided in one position to accommodate the wires.

In Figure 6, 1 indicates the outer tube and 2 the boss of the handle fitting c to which the outer tube is screwed while 3 indicates the internal screw thread for the reception of the respective parts. I may providethe re spective parts of the apparatus from copper or aluminium.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for use in blasting com prising a detonator carrying tube provid'ed with a transversely disposed handle part having a slot or recess, and a rod' slidably mounted within the detonator carrying tube and having a laterally or transversely disposed handle portion adapted to be received into the slot or recess of the transversely disposed handle part of the detonator carrying tube. 2. An apparatus for use in blasting com- 5 prising a detonator carrying tube slotted longitudinally at the end in which the detonator is to be carried and provided with a transversely disposed handle part having a slot or recess, and a rod slidably mounted within the detonator carrying tube and having a laterally or transversely disposed handle portion adapted to be received into the slot or recess of the transversely disposed handle part of the detonator carrying tube.

RHYS D. HARRIS. 

